Notice2026-00671
Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of the Cherokee People, Cherokee, NC
Primary source
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Published
January 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1808-1809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00671]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6863; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041841; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of the Cherokee People,
Cherokee, NC
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP)
has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or
after February 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
in this notice to Evan Mathis, Museum of the Cherokee People, P.O. Box
1599, 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, NC 28719, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f1a091e1151121e0b17160c3f12100b1c0f51100d18"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4a1b2a5aaeaa9a5b0acadb784a9abb0a7b4eaabb6a3">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
Museum of the Cherokee People, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human ancestral remains representing, at least, one individual has
been identified from an unknown site, potentially in Aiken County,
South Carolina. No associated funerary objects
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are present. After completing the consultation process with federally
recognized Tribal Nations, this site is culturally affiliated with the
Catawba Indian Nation, the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of the
Cherokee Indians, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and the United Keetoowah
Band of Cherokee Indians. It is unknown when or by whom the individuals
were removed, but they were transferred to the Augusta Richmond County
Museum (ARCM) sometime prior to 1981. Richard Wescott, the Executive
Director of the ARCM, transferred the individuals to the Museum of the
Cherokee People in 1992, where they have been housed since that time.
To our knowledge, no hazardous substances were used to treat any of the
human ancestral remains.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this
notice.
Determinations
The Museum of the Cherokee People has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains described
in this notice and the Catawba Indian Nation; Cherokee Nation; Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians; The Muscogee (Creek) Nation; and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal
descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after February 17, 2026. If competing
requests for repatriation are received, the Museum of the Cherokee
People must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are
considered a single request and not competing requests. The Museum of
the Cherokee People is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to
the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice and any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: January 9, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-00671 Filed 1-14-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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